geo_L
Level 1 (5 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Bluetooth disabled after updating to OS X El Capitan 10.11.5

Hi,

 

I wonder if someone else had the same problem, after updating my iMac to latest version of El Capitan (10.11.5), bluetooth is disabled. I searched online but nobody seemed to have reported issues with this specific version of OS X.

 

My iMac is a 27-inch, Late 2013, info from "About This Mac":

 

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac14,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 3.4 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

 

If I go to "About This Mac", "System Report...", the system shows as if Bluetooth was not present at all:

Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 11.07.37 PM.png

 

Also the icon on the menu bar appears greyed out:

Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 11.09.59 PM.png

 

Please if anyone had the same issue and found a solution, that'd be awesome!

 

Thank you!

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 27-inch, Late 2013

Posted on May 16, 2016 8:19 PM

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geo_L

Q: Bluetooth disabled after updating to OS X El Capitan 10.11.5

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 16, 2016 8:52 PM in response to geo_L
    Level 10 (207,936 points)
    Applications
    May 16, 2016 8:52 PM in response to geo_L

    If you haven't already done so, please try this simple step first.

  • by iCare,

    iCare iCare May 17, 2016 9:26 AM in response to geo_L
    Level 4 (1,826 points)
    iLife
    May 17, 2016 9:26 AM in response to geo_L

    In addition to resetting the SMC, you may also want to reset the NVRAM too. Users experiencing similar issues in this discussion thread covering loss of Bluetooth reported the issue was resolved with an NVRAM reset.

  • by mcy03970,

    mcy03970 mcy03970 May 17, 2016 6:07 PM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 17, 2016 6:07 PM in response to geo_L

    I'm having major Bluetooth issues after downloading the new version. My iPod and iPad have major difficulty connecting any my iPhone won't even connect. I was on the phone with Apple for over two hours with no resolution. I'm now in the process or reinstalling hoping that may help. If not, I'm going to attempt to go back to a prior version of El Capitan. I love wasting over 6 hrs on a stupid Apple issue. If you're going to release a new version, please make sure you've diligently tested. Very annoyed!

  • by Epithalamion,

    Epithalamion Epithalamion May 19, 2016 7:20 AM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 19, 2016 7:20 AM in response to geo_L

    Nooooo.

     

    I reported this problem when I upgraded by 2 hour unboxed 10.11.3 OS to 10.11.4 - see here:

     

    El Capitan - Bluetooth Not Available

     

    Seems like the problem still exists in the new version.

     

    For what it's worth, I was completely unable to fix the problem even with Apple support.  Had to go back to the store and exchange the Mac.  Have not updated the software and will not be doing so on the basis of the above...

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 May 19, 2016 7:40 AM in response to geo_L
    Level 6 (11,948 points)
    May 19, 2016 7:40 AM in response to geo_L

    Try booting in Safe Mode and see if Bluetooth is present there (my guess: it will). Then let us know.

  • by roram1,

    roram1 roram1 May 19, 2016 8:19 AM in response to Epithalamion
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 19, 2016 8:19 AM in response to Epithalamion

    I called Apple Support and let them know that the Bluetooth Not Available problem is still present in 10.11.5 and that this discussion board indicates that it is a problem for many users.  This seemed to be news to the tech (who thought it was a hardware problem).  Interestingly, I never had this problem on my 2014 Macbook Air running the same system (then 10.11.4) until I migrated its files to the Pro (10.11.4, now .5).

     

    I have tried all the solutions previously posted except re-install system.  The short-term fix of powering down after removing ALL peripherals (including power and displayport cable) and turning off Bluetooth peripherals, waiting a few minutes, and then powering up seems to work.  Better than removing all the plist files at least. As long as the unit is not shut down, no problems.

     

    Despite the tech's assurance that my issue would be delivered to "the right people," I don't have much hope for a fix unless everyone who has the same problem reports it to Apple Support.

  • by geo_L,

    geo_L geo_L May 21, 2016 2:02 PM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 21, 2016 2:02 PM in response to geo_L

    Thanks for all the replies! So I've been busy these last couple of days trying to solve my issue and I wanted to you give you all an update.

     

    The first thing I tried was to follow the suggestions of resetting SMC and NVRAM (thanks Linc and iCare!), but none of them worked, after rebooting my iMac the bluetooth was in the same state.

     

    My next step was to contact Apple support, and I've been almost around two hours running several tests to the machine, and the first session concluded leaving the machine overnight while doing a clean install of the OS. It didn't work either, next day El Capitan 10.11.5 was ready to be used and clean as new, but bluetooth continue disconnected. Apple support called me again and told me to go to an Apple Store and contact a technician there in person. So I did, I got my appointment and headed there.

     

    At the store, they installed the OS from scratch again like 3 times (good thing is they do it in a way that it doesn't take more than 10 min for a full installation, what was pretty awesome considering that at home it took several hours, even with a 50MB Internet connection). Every time they did a new installation, Bluetooth came up disabled till finally they decided to downgrade the OS version back to 10.11.4. This time Bluetooth was working without any problems. At that point there were a couple of technicians gathered by my iMac and they all agreed that the Bluetooth issue was a bug in the latest version of El Capitan. Sadly the technical coverage for my iMac is expired (I bought it in 2014), for this reason they didn't offer any alternatives and they told me they were reporting the issue and all I can do now is wait for the bug to be fixed in future versions of the OS. I had an argument here with them, cause it's not like I did anything wrong with my machine, what happened is that their software update ruined it, but I got nothing out of it.

     

    When I came back home, I realized I already had at least a week of backups in Time Machine with version 10.11.5, so I didn't have a choice but to restore back all my stuff in this version disabling again the Bluetooth. This is the situation I am now, without Bluetooth I cannot use external speakers for sound anymore, and also instead of using the magic mouse I'm using an old cheap plastic mouse I had from an old PC. I know I could create an external backup and downgrade again even from Time Machine, but I prefer to wait for a newer version of the OS and at that point I think I'm going to sell the machine. It's weird to think that you need to wait for an OS update to correct this and that they cannot release in advance something like a driver for the Bluetooth controller or so.

     

    So thanks again to everyone for the help, but at this point I think I can only wait and hope the issue is fixed.

  • by Epithalamion,

    Epithalamion Epithalamion May 21, 2016 2:51 PM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 21, 2016 2:51 PM in response to geo_L

    It's completely f***ed.

     

    Not a big issue for MacBooks which have keyboards and mice built it - for anyone with a Mac this renders the device unusable.

     

    Weird that I had the issue when moving from 10.11.3 to 4, and others are now having it moving from 4 to 5.

  • by gary1413,

    gary1413 gary1413 May 21, 2016 6:44 PM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 21, 2016 6:44 PM in response to geo_L

    Exactly the same issues - my brand new iMac 27" is having the same problem - Apple Support suggestion is that I tuck it under my arm and walk through Birmingham city centre to an Apple Store! - Only solution is repeatedly re-start the PC with all USB devices disconnected until the Bluetooth re-starts and the keyboard & mouse are detected - currently hunting eBay for Wired Mouse & Keyboard.

     

    Guessing that a full fix for this issue will not be forthcoming until El-Capitan is replaced in the Autumn 2016 - at least I'm reassured by the fact that I'm not alone experiencing this issue but thats little consolation!

  • by geo_L,

    geo_L geo_L May 21, 2016 7:14 PM in response to gary1413
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 21, 2016 7:14 PM in response to gary1413

    Gary, if your computer is still under warranty, they should replace it with a brand new one with same or higher specs. Good luck!

  • by bgunscfd7,

    bgunscfd7 bgunscfd7 May 22, 2016 10:40 AM in response to geo_L
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2016 10:40 AM in response to geo_L

    Hey guys  I have had this issue for some time now since 10.11.3 .  I just upgraded to 10.11.5 hoping that would fix the issue and bluetooth was restored, yay!!   NOT,  I went to bed that night woke up the next morning and bluetooth was gone again.  Im guessing it has something to do with my iMac going to sleep for a long period of time.  iMac mid 2011.  The other thing is my bluetooth preference dance is there but it's unresponsive, it shows that bluetooth is on but if I click the button to turn it off it doesn't respond, can't turn bluetooth off.  This is one of the worst issues I have ever had with an apple product.  I repeated all the resolution steps  to try and solve but a no go.  PRAM reset, SMC rest, unplug all USB, plist delete, preference delete.   I don't know what else?? 

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root May 22, 2016 11:38 AM in response to geo_L
    Level 9 (70,250 points)
    iTunes
    May 22, 2016 11:38 AM in response to geo_L

    Do a backup, using either Time Machine or a cloning program, to ensure files/data can be recovered. Two backups are better than one.

     

    Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.

     

    Isolating an issue by using another user account

     

    If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.

     

     

     

     

    Safe Mode - About El Capitan

     

    Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan.

  • by bgunscfd7,

    bgunscfd7 bgunscfd7 May 22, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Eric Root

    Eric thanks much but this did not work.  Bluetooth did not work in any other account I had, my wife's and then I created a new one but still nothing.  After several restarts in safe mode the bluetooth preference pane disappears and the system report says I have no bluetooth found, then randomly after an hour or so preference pane reappears but still does not work.  System report generates that I have bluetooth but still does not work.  Bluetooth doesn't even scan for devices.  I know its not the BT module it worked great after 10.11.5 update but then iMac went to sleep for several hours at night and when I woke up not working.  I have reset the BT module as well.  Can't tell you how frustrating this is.  Had to buy a usb keyboard and mouse just for my iMac to work.   This seems to be a fairly large problem that Apple is not owning up to.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 May 23, 2016 1:29 AM in response to bgunscfd7
    Level 6 (11,948 points)
    May 23, 2016 1:29 AM in response to bgunscfd7

    Just to clarify: even while booted in Safe Mode, Bluetooth was still not working?

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